CAA NZ PPL Human Factors case studies
CAA NZ PPL Human Factors · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Human factors is a knowledge area within the CAA New Zealand Private Pilot Licence (PPL) theory set, administered through the pilot licensing and flight training framework published on aviation.govt.nz. It is aimed at student pilots working toward a PPL, and at licence holders or overseas-qualified pilots who need to satisfy New Zealand knowledge requirements. The subject examines how pilot performance is affected by the human condition: decision-making and judgement, situational awareness, workload and stress, fatigue and sleep, vision and hearing limitations, hypoxia and spatial disorientation, cockpit communication and crew coordination, and the error and threat management habits that reduce accident risk. Because the CAA site presents human factors alongside safety education, Safety Management Systems and occurrence reporting material, preparation should combine study of those published safety resources with the practical flying guides and flight test standards guides that describe expected pilot behaviour. The CAA NZ PPL Human Factors case studies are 5 cases and about 3,562 words.
1The Last 35 Minutes: Fatigue on a Weekend Charter
You hold a PPL and work full-time. You are rostered to fly two passengers from Ardmore to Napier, departing at 0600.
770 words, about 4 min2Headache at 9500 Feet: Heater, Hypoxia or Carbon Monoxide?
On a cold winter afternoon you are cruising a Cessna 172 at 9500 ft over the central North Island. The cabin heater has been on for about 20 minutes.
728 words, about 4 min3Night Departure Over Water: When the Seat of the Pants Is Wrong
You are departing at night from a coastal aerodrome in a light single-engine aircraft. Beyond the runway end is dark water and no visible horizon.
695 words, about 3 min4Downwind Saturation: Traffic, Tablet Failure and a Chatty Passenger
You are flying a VFR cross-country into a controlled aerodrome and have been cleared to join downwind for runway 27. You are number two behind a slower aircraft.
679 words, about 3 min5The Family Event: Weather, Passenger Pressure and Plan Continuation
You plan a VFR flight from a small strip to a family event 1.5 hours away. The forecast is marginal: cloud base 1200 ft, visibility 6 km in showers, with hills to 800 ft on the route.
690 words, about 3 min